Want To Be A Notary? Here’s How
Ever wonder what it takes to be a notary public? The qualifications are actually quite clear and simple to follow. In this post, I will narrow down some of the common threshold items that most states and counties are looking for to help you determine if you’re eligible to apply to become a Notary public.
Let’s get started.
Preliminary Qualifications
Age
Across all states and counties. The minimum age requirement is 18 years old. I guess this makes sense since you can legally vote at this age too. The only exception to this is Nebraska, where, for some reason the minimum age, is 19.
Go Figure.
Place of Residence
Generally, you must reside in the state in which you are applying for your notary commission. Certain places require you reside in specific counties. The general exception to this rule is if you work in the state in which you are applying for, but live in a bordering state. Consider the following example:
An aspiring notary wishes to apply for his commission. She lives in Memphis, Tennessee but has works in West Memphis, Arkansas. Under these circumstances, the hypothetical applicant above could in fact apply to be a notary in Arkansas.
Maintenance of Good Standing
If you have no prior convictions, you should be able to proceed with the application process. It’s worth noting that if an applicant has restored a conviction, he or she would be eligible to apply.
Educational and Exam Requirements
A notary public may be required to take a course, exam, or both as part of the application process. Unfortunately, the rule around this differs from one state to the next. For example,
- Oklahoma has no requirements for either.
- Ohio, requires both a course and exam.
- New York requires an exam only.
If you reside in a state or country where these two items are required, plan accordingly.
If you’ve met the preliminary requirements and are able to complete the required education and testing required, congratulations, you are well on your way to opening up shop.
Additional Considerations
Keep in mind there are a few other items to keep in mind as you engage in business. Consider the following:
- Notary Bonds: Some states require that notaries have bonds. This is intended to protect the notary in the case that he or she fails to carry out his obligations which results in damages.
- Notary Journals. You may have to take a journal of all the notarizations that you perform for you clients.
- Notary Seals. You may be required to affix your seal to notarized documents. In most cases, the notary stamp will do.
One Final Note. Yes…West Memphis is in the Mississippi Township, which just so happens to be in Arkansas. See!?
How was your experience through the application process? Let us know!